4 Geology^ ^-c. of the Connecticut. 



drawn — and therefore, the specific name above given, may 

 not be unappropriate for this granite. 



A great part of this granite exists in beds in mica slate ; 

 gneiss being a rare rock in the vicinity. Indeed, it may be 

 doubted whether the whole range is not in the form of beds. 

 I think, however, it will be found that there is a central ridge 

 which is fundamental, at least two or three miles broad, ex- 

 tending from South Hampton through Wilharnsburg to the 

 southwest part of Conway and northeast part of Goshen. 

 Certainly, along this line little else appears but granite ; and 

 in some places, as at its northern extremity, this rock forms 

 hills of considerable elevation, and extensive ledges. Beds 

 of granite may indeed be found in the vallies between 

 these ledges; but an observer as he passes over this region 

 and proceeds south to South Hampton lead mine, will find 

 it difficult to persuade himself that he is not traversing an 

 original fundamental* deposit of this rock. Or if it exist 

 in beds alternating with mica slate, it will in some instances 

 be found no easy matter to prove it — the mere fact that 

 mica slate is found on both sides of it not being sufficient 

 evidence : the same being the case with an original deposit. 



I would here suggest whether the mica slate of this re- 

 gion, that .contains beds of granite, may not be a newer for- 

 mation, reposing immediately upon that granite nucleus 

 which probably forms the basis rock in New-England. 

 And wherever this mica slate and upper granite is worn 

 away, or there is a projection in the nucleus, the basis rock 

 may appear. Such a supposition will account for all the 

 appearances of the region vi^e are now considering, which is 

 coloured on the map as granite. 



As we go east or west from what I have called the cen- 

 tral ridge of this granite, the beds of this rock become more 

 and more distinct, the mica slate, however, increasing in 



* "The term fundamental, has, it should seem, been gratuitously predi- 

 cated of a particular description of granite ; for by the terms of the propo- 

 sition, the bottom of this formation has never been seen, and consequently 

 •we have no means of determining whether it be fundamental or not." — Ed. 

 Rev. Jan. 1820, p. 89. 



But, we should ask, whether it be not proper to say of space, that it is in- 

 finite, for the very reason that we cannot limit it ? And with equally good 

 reason, it would seem, we may say of granite that it is fundamental, be- 

 cause we have never found any other rock below a particulay description 

 of it. 



